Beijing News: Revision of the Forestry Law, Experts Call for Increased Information Disclosure, Forest Carbon Sinks, etc. | Organized by CBCGDF
2019/8/11 17:47:00 本站

 [Editor’s note:] What’s in line with China’s deep involvement in global environmental governance is China’s increasingly important role in the international ecological and environmental protection field. The revision of the Forestry Law of the People’s Republic of China has also attracted the attention of domestic and foreign experts and environmental organizations. In order to more comprehensively summarize the opinions of various circles, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) organized a symposium on the revision of the Forestry Law and received the attention and reports of the Beijing News (新京报) reporter.

 

The Beijing News (Reporter Wang Jun) In order to meet the needs of China's forest protection and the construction of ecological civilization, the "Forestry Law" issued in 1984 will usher in a major revision.

 

On June 25, the Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China (Revised Draft) was submitted to the 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress for deliberation.

 

Recently, China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) organized a symposium on the revision of the Forestry Law. Many experts at the meeting called for the addition of “information disclosure”, “public participation”, and “forest carbon sink”.

 

Recommendation 1

 

Increase "information disclosure and public participation" content

 

From the current legislative trends and the experience of environmental protection law legislation, in the laws related to environmental protection, the provisions of 'information disclosure and public participation' are common.” Ma Yong, the Deputy Secretary-General of CBCGDF said, “But in the revised draft of the Forestry Law, information disclosure and public participation involve very little content and no system is formed.”

 

Zhou Ke, a professor at Renmin University of China, also believes that the draft does not provide sufficient public participation and information disclosure. It is recommended that Article 7 be added to encourage the public to actively participate in and supervise the management of forests and information disclosure.

 

"The importance of supervision and inspection is self-evident, but the administrative color of the current draft is too strong," said Cao Mingde, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law.

 

He said that in terms of law enforcement, there are problems in law enforcement in many areas of practice, which is why we emphasize information disclosure and public participation.

 

The real problem is that from the practice of carrying out biodiversity conservation work, the information disclosure around forestry and grassland is very different from the information disclosure of traditional environmental protection,” Ma Yong said.

 

Ma Yong said by example that many areas in the protection of pangolin or other rare and endangered wildlife protection are vague, the public is unaware of and cannot participate, and their right to know and supervise is difficult to guarantee. He suggested that in the field of information disclosure, the Forestry Law also requires more detailed and comprehensive regulations.

 

Recommendation 2

 

Increase the management of forest carbon sinks and carbon trading transactions

 

Forest carbon sinks are also a common concern for the participating experts.

 

The carbon sink function of forests means that forest plants absorb and fix carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through vegetation and soil in photosynthesis, thereby reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

 

Ma Yong believes that the first article should include the carbon sink function of forests, including the function of reducing greenhouse gases and the function of responding to climate change, etc., laying a good legal foundation for future carbon trading in the forest sector.

 

The carbon sink function of the forest is very important. We have not considered it in the past. Now there is a saying in the world that the forest can fix carbon, but if you use it inappropriately, for example, improperly felled, it will release carbon. Zhou Ke said.

 

He believes that the Forestry Law should increase the content of forest carbon sinks, including carbon sink management and carbon sink trading.

 

The reporter noted that carbon trading is not uncommon in China.

 

However, in Ma Yong’s view, these also require the guidance of the upper law. “There is no relevant law, where does the carbon sink transaction come from, and who is the price standard? These should be clearly defined in the Forestry Law.”


Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4856/9431.html


By / Maggie